Everything was ready and set to erect 36 150-meter-high wind turbines on Nørrekær Enge between the municipalities of Vesthimmerland and Aalborg. The wind turbine project is set to become Denmark's largest onshore project and supply electricity to at least 85,000 households.
Now the Planning Appeals Board has postponed the project indefinitely and may cancel it altogether. According to the board, there is no certainty about what consequences the construction of the turbines will have for the pond bat, which is one of the rarest bats in Denmark.
The decision irritates the Nørrekær Enges Wind Turbine Association.
- We think it's a shame that it has been put on hold again. It's dragging on. We've now been waiting for two years to get clarification on the complaint. It is incomprehensible that it has taken two years to make a decision that, to our surprise, puts the project on hold, says Helge Christiansen, vice-chairman of the Nørrekær Enges Windmill Association.
The Planning Appeals Board has revoked the environmental report, as well as the local plans and municipal plan supplements. The revocation is due to two factors, according to the decision: The environmental report is based on incorrect assumptions about the way the pond bat flies.
In addition, the board believes that the bat surveys that have been carried out have been insufficient considering the size of the project area and the location close to the Natura 2000 area.
Several citizens will be disappointed
According to Helge Christiansen, the ball is now in Vattenfall's court. Here they make no secret of the fact that the decision is a blow to the project.
- We are naturally disappointed with the outcome of the decision, as the development of Nørrekær Enge II cannot continue as we had planned. We are in the process of carefully reviewing the conclusions from the Planning Appeals Board in order to assess the various options for the future of the project together with our local partners, says Esben Baltzer Nielsen, press manager at Vattenfall to Nordjyske.
According to Helge Christiansen, a possible cancellation of the project will bring disappointment among several citizens in the area.
- There will be some citizens who have made advance agreements with Vattenfall to sell their houses at a good price, just like farmers for their land. So there will be some who will be disappointed if it stalls, he says.
However, he still believes in the project.
- We continue to work with our eyes firmly fixed on the future, and we believe in it. But if it stalls, then it stalls. It is not a catastrophe. In the association, we support the project, and we believe that it is a good area to install turbines. It will be a setback for the green transition if it does not happen. And it will be really unfortunate and a lot of wasted work, says Helge Christiansen.
In connection with the approval of the project in Aalborg and Vesthimmerland municipalities, a total of 68 different complaints have been received.
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